Inconsistent Trojans hold on to beat ASU

Arizona State guard Jahil Carson reacts after he missed a last-second shot from about half-court against Southern California in the second half in Los Angeles Saturday. Carson led all scorers with 23 points, but USC won, 57-56.REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Only two games remain in USC's regular season, and the Trojans are no easier to figure than they were in November. This group of transfers and vagabonds, playing for an interim coach, isn't always eye-pleasing, but when the calendar turns to March, ``unpredictable'' can also be a synonym for ``dangerous.''

USC led by 19 points in the first half Saturday, then needed a freshman walk-on, a favorable video-review call and a last-second miss to hold off Arizona State in a 57-56 victory in front of 4,034 at Galen Center.

At the end of a wild final minute, Arizona State's Jahii Carson made a layup to make it a one-point game, and the Sun Devils immediately fouled Eric Wise with four seconds remaining. Wise missed the first free throw and Carson got a decent look at a long-range 3-point but missed as the clock ran out.

The Trojans (14-15, 9-7) played the final five minutes without guard Jio Fontan, who sprained his wrist and then fouled out, but won and leapfrogged the Sun Devils (20-10, 9-8) to pull into a tie for fifth place in the Pac-12 Conference. USC ends its regular season next week at Washington and Washington State.

Then the Trojans head to the conference tournament in Las Vegas. They will need to win the tournament -- four games in four days -- in order to steal an NCAA Tournament berth, but who's to say it can't happen?

USC improved to 7-5 under Cantu, but two days removed from their impressive 11-point victory over No. 11 Arizona, the Trojans narrowly avoided a massive collapse on Senior Day against the Sun Devils.

''At the end of today, I just wanted to smile and walk away with a win, and that's what I got,'' Fontan said.

Arizona State entered the game shooting 45.7 percent from the field this season, second-best in the conference, and in the teams' first meeting, the Sun Devils beat USC 98-93 in overtime.

Saturday's game couldn't have been any different. USC started the game with a 2-3 zone defense and did a good job of contesting Arizona State's perimeter shots. The Sun Devils looked lost. With four minutes left in the first half, USC led 28-9, and the Sun Devils had as many turnovers as points.

''The emphasis all week (in practice) was on defending the 3-point line and defending one step above the 3-point line and not letting them get good looks,'' Cantu said.

USC's lead was trimmed to 11 points at halftime, but the Trojans led by 14 with 7:30 left in the game. They played much of the half without Fontan, who hit the court hard and left the game for several minutes to get his wrist iced, then fouled out shortly after his return. Fontan is listed as day to day with his sprained wrist.

Chass Bryan, a freshman walk-on, filled in admirably with two assists and zero turnovers in 18 minutes.

An 11-2 run brought the Sun Devils back and set up a wild final minute. USC led 55-52 with 20 seconds remaining when J.T. Terrell missed a jumper. Wise got the offensive rebound and was fouled just as the shot clock expired. After a video review, officials confirmed the foul call, not a shot-clock violation.

Wise made both free throws to put USC up 57-52, and the Trojans held on even though, in the final 15 seconds, Byron Wesley threw away an inbounds pass and Wise missed his late free throw.

Wise shot 4 for 12 from the field but led the Trojans with 12 points. USC shot only 32.1 percent from the field but defended the perimeter well, as Arizona State went 1 for 12 from 3-point range.

Arizona State guard Jahil Carson reacts after he missed a last-second shot from about half-court against Southern California in the second half in Los Angeles Saturday. Carson led all scorers with 23 points, but USC won, 57-56. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California guard Byron Wesley leads a floor scrum against Arizona State guard Evan Gordon, top left, and guard Chris Colvin, right, in the first half in Los Angeles Saturday. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California guard Jio Fontan, left, is greeted by forward Renaldo Woolridge after fouling out late in the second half against Arizona State in Los Angeles. USC won, 57-56. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona State guard Chris Colvin passes under pressure from Southern California guard J.T. Terrell, left, and forward Dewayne Dedmon, right, in the second half in Los Angeles Saturday. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
USC forward Eric Wise (left) goes up for two of his team-high 12 points as Arizona State forward Jonathan Gilling defends in the second half on Saturday in Los Angeles. USC won, 57-56. Reed Saxon, AP
Southern California's Aaron Fuller hauls in a rebound as Arizona State forward Jonathan Gilling, right, of Denmark, and forward/center Eric Jacobsen defend in the first half in Los Angeles, Saturday. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona State forward/center Eric Jacobsen is fouled by Southern California center Omar Oraby, of Egypt, during the first half in Los Angeles. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California forward Eric Wise goes up for two of his team-high 12 points as Arizona State forward Jonathan Gilling, of Denmark, defends in the second half in Los Angeles Saturday. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona State guard Jahil Carson splits Southern California defenders guard Chass Bryan and guard Chris Colvin in the second half in Los Angeles Saturday. Carson led all scorers with 23 points, but USC won 57-56. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California center Omar Oraby and forward Renaldo Woolridge watch the clock in the final minute against Arizona in Los Angeles Saturday. USC won, 57-56. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern California head coach Bob Cantu directs his team the first half against Arizona State in Los Angeles Saturday. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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